Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Paparocks' Favorite Rock

This rock stands in the Kananaskis range of the Canadian Rocky Mountains between Calgary and Banff, near Chester Lake. It is known as The Praying Nun. You don't even really have to use your imagination too much. She's kneeling at an altar, with her hands folded neatly under her chin.

I came accross the formation while out hiking one day several years ago.

Sunday, May 07, 2006

IT'S NOT "JUST STUFF"

How many times have I heard someone say, "Well, it's all "just stuff", as in "only" stuff???

Well, I beg to differ... It's not "just stuff", in fact it's way more than "stuff". Our houses are full of things that other's might call "stuff", but to us are priceless treasures because of what they represent, the memories they invoke, the feelings that they awaken inside of us. They are not "just stuff". Because they make us happy, remind us of where we came from, who we are and maybe even who or what we would like to become, if they were lost, or destroyed, as they can be and sometimes are, we would feel a great loss, because many of them cannot be replaced. Yes, we may still be able to remember them, or the place, person or event that made them special to us, but over time the memories may dim and we might miss the "stuff", wishing we had it back again to help us remember.

Here's some of our "stuff" - not all of it by a long stretch, but then, this blog is not big enough for all of it. In no particular order of importance, because they are all important. Some of it is on display in our home. Some of it is kept in closets. Some of it is in special boxes that we keep this kind of stuff in so that from time to time we can pull it out and remember:

The Jade Grizzly reminds me of the Canadian Rockies and the many wonderfull times I spent there as a child and an adult, and of the times and feelings I had when I actually saw a live grizzly in the wild.

The glass disc reminds me of our year in Venezuela. It wasn't ALL bad. In fact there was probably more good than bad.

The antique clock that belonged to the old woman that grammy shared a room with for 7 years while she was growing up, and learned to tell time on. Oh, the memories this one holds!

Magic kalaidescope, complete with letter from Papa.

The baseball glove that I keep around even though I never played much, but keep just in case the grandson's (OK, and daughters) might want to play catch with Papa when they come to visit.

Lakes Moraine and Louise - two of the most beautiful places on earth. Filled with memories.

The stupid horn your Dad brought you home from his trip to Portobello Road in London.

To remember that we were once little and someone loved us enough to present us to the world in the very best. These are Grammy's baby booties.

A dresser full of "stuff" - every piece meaningful!

Reminder of vacations at the shore:

The friendship bracelets my daughters made for me. Yes, I kept them all these years.

And who wouldn't want and cherish a "Flagon with a Dragon".

Family pictures.

Many of these things were given as gifts. Some were purchased as souvenirs and remembrances of trips and special occaisions. Some were inherited. Some were just picked up along the way. All are special to us.

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Finally.... It's Done!!!

Have you ever had a project that you started and then for one reason or another just couldn't finish? You put it aside, but every time you walk past it it calls your name and sticks it's tongue out at you, mocking you and calling you names, like:

"You procrastinating loser!", or

"You lazy bum!".

No? Yeah, probably not. You're probably all super focused on finishing something once you've started, and nothing can get in the way of you achieving your goal.

It's kind of like writer's block, only with wood, instead of words.

Well, I've finally finished the wood project that I started well over a year ago. It's been sitting in my garage in various stages of unfinishedness for all that time. In between, I've finished several other projects: 10 walnut and maple cutting boards, my Daughter-in-law's solid cedar hope chest, Grammy's birthday music box, and a few others that I've forgotten, I'm sure.

But no more will it be called "Unfinished"! This very morning, I put the finishing touches on it and installed the drawers and it now sits in our family room with our stereo on top and the drawers full of our CD's and some DVD's.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

I don't think these things are weird, but......

3. I can remember my Canadian Social Insurance number even though I haven't had to use it in 12 years, but I can't remember what it was I wanted to Google 5 minutes ago.

4. I enjoy getting older, even with the ever increasing aches and pains.

5. Nantiemeg's thing about having her left foot out from under the covers..... She comes by it honestly. Me to!

6. I had an appendicitis attack at the age of 18 while wrapped from head to toe in tin foil. (No, it was not what you might think... I was playing the Tin Man in a Wizard of Oz play and had my appendix out the next morning.